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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Healthcare

Take the Phlebotomy and Blood Analysis Knowledge Test

Assess your venipuncture and lab analysis proficiency

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art promoting a Phlebotomy and Blood Analysis Knowledge Test quiz

Ready to sharpen your phlebotomy skills? This engaging blood analysis practice quiz challenges users with scenario-based questions covering venipuncture techniques, specimen handling, and lab procedures. Ideal for students, medical assistants, or professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge, it offers instant feedback and progress tracking. Customize and expand the quiz freely in our editor for tailored study sessions. For further practice, try the Phlebotomy and Anatomy Assessment Quiz or the Blood Donation Knowledge Quiz , and browse all quizzes.

What is the primary purpose of applying a tourniquet during venipuncture?
To close the vein after collection
To restrict venous blood flow and distend the veins
To sterilize the puncture site
To completely stop arterial blood flow
A tourniquet temporarily restricts venous return, making veins more prominent and easier to access. It does not stop arterial flow or sterilize the site.
Which site is recommended for capillary blood collection in an adult?
Forearm
Earlobe
Lateral side of the third or ring finger
Heel of the foot
For adults, capillary samples are most commonly obtained from the lateral side of a finger. Heel sticks are used primarily for infants.
Which additive in a lavender-top tube acts as an anticoagulant?
Sodium citrate
EDTA
Clot activator
Sodium heparin
EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) chelates calcium, preventing blood from clotting in the tube. Other additives serve different roles.
Which information must always be included on a blood collection tube label?
Patient name only
Collector's initials only
Date of collection only
Patient name, date of birth, date/time of collection, and collector's initials
Accurate tube labeling requires patient identifiers, collection date/time, and collector initials to ensure traceability and prevent errors.
What practice helps prevent hemolysis during tube mixing?
Leave the tube upright without mixing
Gently invert the tube rather than shaking vigorously
Shake the tube forcefully to mix quickly
Drop the tube from a short height to mix
Gentle inversion ensures proper mixing of blood and anticoagulant without damaging red blood cells. Vigorous shaking can cause hemolysis.
According to the standard order of draw, which tube is collected immediately after blood culture bottles?
Light blue-top (sodium citrate) tube
Lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Green-top (heparin) tube
Red-top (serum) tube
The standard order of draw begins with blood culture bottles, followed by the light blue-top citrate tube to prevent cross-contamination of additives.
Why must a sodium citrate tube be filled to the marked volume?
To prevent overmixing
To reduce hemolysis risk
To maintain the proper 9:1 blood to anticoagulant ratio
To ensure enough serum for testing
Sodium citrate works in a fixed ratio; underfilling alters anticoagulant concentration and invalidates coagulation test results.
If a coagulation test sample cannot be analyzed immediately, what is the recommended handling?
Leave at 37°C to maintain enzyme activity
Keep at room temperature and analyze within four hours
Freeze immediately to preserve factors
Refrigerate at 4°C, then warm before testing
Coagulation factors are stable at room temperature for a limited time; refrigeration or freezing can activate or degrade clotting factors.
Which action is most likely to cause hemolysis during blood collection?
Using a properly sized needle
Applying light tourniquet pressure
Gently inverting the tube
Forcefully aspirating with a syringe
Forceful suction can shear red blood cells against the syringe barrel, causing hemolysis. Proper technique minimizes cell damage.
A blood sample appears milky and opaque. What is the most likely cause?
Hemolysis from rough handling
Icterus from high bilirubin
Lipemia due to recent fatty meal
Clotting due to insufficient anticoagulant
Lipemic samples are caused by high triglyceride levels, often from a non-fasting state, giving the plasma a milky appearance.
Prolonged tourniquet application before draw can cause:
Hemoconcentration
Hemolysis
Clot formation
Lipemia
Extended stasis causes fluid to shift from the vascular compartment, concentrating cells and proteins in the sample (hemoconcentration).
Which anticoagulant is contained in green-top tubes?
Potassium oxalate
K2EDTA
Lithium heparin
Sodium citrate
Green-top tubes contain lithium heparin, which inhibits thrombin and prevents clotting by enhancing antithrombin activity.
What is the buffy coat in a centrifuged blood sample?
The red blood cell layer
The plasma layer
The clotted fibrin layer
The layer of white blood cells and platelets
After centrifugation, the buffy coat sits between plasma and red cells and contains leukocytes and platelets for certain analyses.
At what angle should the needle be inserted for a standard venipuncture?
60 - 75 degrees
5 - 10 degrees
45 - 60 degrees
15 - 30 degrees
A shallow 15 - 30° angle allows entry into the vein without puncturing through the opposite wall, optimizing patient safety and comfort.
How many gentle inversions are recommended for an EDTA tube after collection?
8 - 10 times
15 - 20 times
None, leave upright
2 - 3 times
EDTA tubes require 8 - 10 gentle inversions to mix the anticoagulant without causing hemolysis or clotting.
Why can potassium levels appear falsely elevated in samples collected in K2EDTA tubes?
EDTA binds sodium affecting the assay
EDTA increases cell metabolism of potassium
EDTA causes hemolysis releasing intracellular potassium
EDTA contains potassium ions that leach into the sample
K2EDTA tubes contain potassium salts; if the blood-to-additive ratio is off, potassium can leach into plasma, falsely elevating measured levels.
Which handling step is critical when collecting a sample for plasma ammonia measurement?
Keep at room temperature
Freeze at - 20°C right away
Place in ice-water slurry immediately
Refrigerate at 4°C for 24 hours
Ammonia levels rise rapidly at room temperature; placing the specimen in ice preserves accurate measurement by slowing metabolic activity.
Which red blood cell inclusion is most indicative of splenic dysfunction?
Basophilic stippling
Howell-Jolly bodies
Pappenheimer bodies
Heinz bodies
Howell-Jolly bodies are nuclear remnants normally removed by a healthy spleen; their presence indicates reduced splenic function or asplenia.
A sample shows a high hemolysis index. Which laboratory values are most likely affected?
Potassium and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Albumin and total protein
Calcium and magnesium
Glucose and creatinine
Hemolysis releases intracellular contents such as potassium and LDH into plasma, leading to falsely elevated test results.
A patient reports a severe latex allergy. Which modification should be made for blood collection?
Increase needle gauge to 16
Use latex-free gloves and tourniquet
Apply extra adhesive bandage after draw
Double-glove with latex gloves
Latex-allergic patients require latex-free equipment to prevent allergic reactions; double-gloving with latex or other changes do not address the allergen source.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key blood collection techniques and best practices
  2. Demonstrate correct venipuncture procedures safely
  3. Apply anticoagulant selection and specimen handling protocols
  4. Analyse common blood sample irregularities and errors
  5. Evaluate proper labeling and transport guidelines
  6. Master basic blood component identification under microscopy

Cheat Sheet

  1. Order of Draw Mastery - Keep your tubes in line like a pro Domino setup: first blood cultures, then red-top serum, blue-top sodium citrate, green-top lithium heparin, purple/pink EDTA, and finally gray-top for glucose and lactate. Following this sequence helps avoid cross-contamination of additives and keeps your lab results squeaky clean. Best Practices in Phlebotomy
  2. Hand Hygiene First - Before you even prepare your equipment, scrub in or use an alcohol-based rub to chase away those pesky microbes. Never skip this step - clean hands are your first line of defense against infections. Hand Hygiene Guidelines
  3. Needle Gauge Selection - Pick the right needle size to keep patients comfortable and samples intact; 21-gauge is the adult MVP, while a sleek 23-gauge is a calmer ride for kids. Choosing wisely minimizes hemolysis and maximizes your chances of a single-stick success. Guide to Needle Gauges
  4. Spot-On Site Disinfection - Swab the venipuncture site with 70% alcohol and let it air-dry completely for rockstar-level antisepsis. This small pause makes a huge difference in keeping unwanted pathogens out of the bloodstream. Antisepsis Techniques
  5. Instant Labeling - Tag each tube right after collection with the patient's full name, date of birth, and timestamp to dodge the misidentification monster. Labeling on the spot saves time, sanity, and lives. Labeling Best Practices
  6. Gentle Specimen Handling - Treat your tubes like fragile art; gently invert them as needed and never shake vigorously to avoid hemolysis. A soft touch preserves sample integrity and ensures accurate test outcomes. Handling Specimens Safely
  7. Monitor Adverse Reactions - Keep an eagle eye on patients for hematomas, vasovagal responses, or any signs of distress during and after the draw. Quick recognition and intervention are your superpowers for patient safety. Managing Venipuncture Complications
  8. Safe Sharps Disposal - Immediately drop used needles and sharps into puncture-resistant containers - never ever recap! Proper disposal is the ultimate shield against needlestick injuries. Sharps Disposal Protocols
  9. Know Your Blood Components - Red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma each play a starring role in health; understanding their functions helps you interpret lab results with confidence. Think of it as knowing your team before the big game. Blood Component Basics
  10. Pre-Analytical Error Prevention - Common culprits like hemolysis, clotting, or contamination can sneak in without proper technique and attention to detail. Stay sharp, follow protocols meticulously, and keep those pre-analytic gremlins at bay. Avoiding Pre-Analytical Errors
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